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FactFile: The Sustainability Project
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Contributing to the Debate
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Be active, not passive
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What would a turtle say to humans about marine pollution? Why is the Aral Sea disappearing? How do we sustain human life without compromising our natural environment?
The SchoolNet Global Sustainability Project is encouraging children from Canada, Norway, Britain and America to contribute to the debate on the interdependence of life on the planet. They are discovering the relevance and importance of the views, cultures and issues affecting people around the world.
Project Co-ordinator Dave Allan says, “The Sustainability Project is creating an inspiring and challenging global learning community where children investigate, discuss and present their views on some of the most complex issues facing the planet today. We are making global education active rather than passive.”
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Developed in Partnership
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Letting children's imaginations fly - safely
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Children from participating schools investigate sustainability themes published on the project website. They research, evaluate and discuss their chosen subject and publish their findings on SchoolNet Global. As the project develops, children will interact directly with other schools around the world.
Merle Marsh, Worcester Preparatory School, Maryland, USA, says, "The project is an excellent idea, and the students greatly enjoy it. The chance to see their own work published online in an international newsletter is motivating them to learn about the environment and develop their writing skills.”
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Extending Thinking Beyond the Schoolhouse
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Becoming citizens of the world
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As well as working with their own children, participating teachers are also helping to develop the project themes and the technology behind the project. They will form a "global faculty" which will work with children from many schools around the world. Dave says, "This is a developmental project that we hope will inspire many more collaborative ventures. We are learning as we go, both pedagogically and technically - the first participating schools are as much developers of the project as participants.”
Teachers acknowledge having a dedicated project co-ordinator has contributed to the project’s success. In addition, contributing to a monthly newsletter helps engage children and motivates teachers and pupils to remain active. Dave concludes, "The Sustainability Project extends children's thinking beyond the schoolhouse - in essence, participating children are taking their first steps to becoming citizens of the world.”
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SchoolNet Global 
